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Sunday, August 13, 2017

This is mirror prints of cotton and satin silk with all natural resources. That day I went t行o the fabric shop for the last minute shopping with my friend J. before leaving for Ireland.

I spied the exquisite satin silk jacquard. J spotted the one with typical Chinese jacquard which is three-fold the price of the one王 I usually to do with. I was hesitate for the price but can't resist to buy a few yards to try.

After fabric sourcing J and I walked along the flower market. We found a quaint florist cafe for a coffee. We talked about creation and life while admiring the flowers, the decoration around us. I told J. the heart-shaped eucalyptus leaf in the bottle prints red. She found it amazing.

When I back home I immediately done swatch testing with fresh sumac and the remnants of last workshop. Layout with a few mordant euc and the sumac on the satin side then covered with the cotton for the one off mirror prints.

After an hour boiling it's done. Prints on the left is cotton and the right is satin silk.

The same leaves with different shades.

Sumac rich in tannin and prints dark with iron on cotton but brown on silk with no mordant. Close up prints on satin silk with visible jacquard of Chinese patterns.

The "Before & After" of layout and the mirror prints on cotton and satin silk.

This is a simple natural prints making yet fabulous shades can be done with appropriate natural mordants. My instant download tutorial shows the step-by-step making is available here "Botanical Imprints" tutorial.

Well, I'm about to leave.
Mogi's final check to make sure I'm well packed with clothing and all stuff.

In the workshop I will teach how to imprint directly with leaves, weeds or flowers gathered locally onto silk fabric then make it into wearables. For more info please contact Genoa Daniel genoa55@gmail.com or Norman Janes norma.janes@gmail.com

During the sessions students will learn the prints making with natural resources, extracts and mordants from basic to fabulous shades.

After the first part of the workshop, students will make a multi styled wrap (scarf-vest) with nuno felt skills.

The printed yardage can also be sewed into garment at home or with nuno felt skills make it into a seamless tunic dress in the second part of the workshop. Students will have hands on experiments of making eco prints samples and two pieces of finished garments. That's the workshop scheduled in

Sept 22-25, 2017

In Aug and Sept I am off to Europe and Canada. Before my first leg in London and Ireland this week, I grasped the nice hiking with friends in the north of Hong Kong. It was a rainy day but fortunately when we're on the hill top rain stopped and it's clear we can view the well developed China from Hong Kong border. Hong Kong is greenery everywhere though some have the instinct of high rises only. We do have undulating mountains, sea and well accessible networks.

Almost two months away I will surely miss hiking and biking in Hong Kong but anticipating the reunion of friends with same passion in Ireland and UK where we will play with eco printing and wool felting.

Thank you for my readers who follow my blog. I will still writing when I am on the road as I always said my life is "travel + teaching + playing - I color my life"

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Cant' thank more for my friends who like to do natural prints with me. Florence and Grace are sisters who are very supportive to my works and have joined my tutelage a few times. They found the flower prints lovely particularly Lagerstroemia speciosa (大葉紫薇) and Hibiscus tiliaceus (黃槿) as the above image.

To take the blooming season for the prints, they came again this Sunday for the flower prints.

Up in the skies were those pretty purple / pink flowers - Lagerstroemia speciosa........

Heading to the other side of the harbour with stunning view........

lots of Hibiscus tiliaceus by the tranquil coast

A half day walk with handful flowers for the prints.

Started composition with assorted leaves and flowers on a piece of wool blend and another piece of silk wrap then bundle boiling for an hour.
Before the workshop I told the girls it's interesting to make such
prints with the new skills but not guarantee it's beautiful. Yes I
can't guarantee what mother nature gives. The outcome depends really on
sorts of plants collected.

Unwrapping is always exciting......

"What can we expect? That flower is khaki."

"Oh, this one is yellowish."

Part of the wrap with composition of different flowers, leaves and shades.